> Sure, but what's not really python per se. One could also call C++ libraries from java via JNI and pretend java is super fast. But that's how every scripting

> Sure, but what's not really python per se. One could also call C++ libraries from java via JNI and pretend java is super fast. But that's how every scripting language obtains good-not-just-decent performance. A strong culture of dropping down to C for any halfway-important library is why PHP's so hard to beat in real-world use, speed-wise (whatever its other shortcomings).